Program Associate, Northeast

As Program Associate, you will sit at the centre of Pratham’s growth in the Northeast. You will work closely with the Pratham leadership team in Assam, current and prospective donors, local partner organisations, and district and state government officials. The role brings together partnership development, donor management, program tracking, and documentation. It suits someone who wants breadth, writes well, and is energised by building things that do not yet exist.

Write proposals, concept notes, and letters of interest for prospective and existing partnerships with donors, local organisations, and government bodies.

Facilitate discussions and brainstorming sessions on potential partnerships and prepare the material that supports them.

Track the external landscape in the Northeast, including funding trends, government priorities, and the work of other organisations, and assess where it aligns with Pratham’s program structures.

Serve as a coordination point for donors supporting work in the Northeast, and prepare regular, accurate progress reports.

Lead periodic conversations with donors on program updates, results, and future planning.

Work with program and finance colleagues to make sure reporting, budgets, and program reality stay aligned.

Track implementation closely with the program team and give leadership regular updates on progress, insights, opportunities, and areas needing course correction.

Document how the work is being implemented across states and build a usable body of knowledge that new states and teams can draw on.

Translate field observations and data into clear written material for internal and external audiences.

Travel extensively across the Northeast to build relationships with likeminded organisations, local governments, and community institutions.

Spend time in the field with children, communities, and teams, since credibility in this role comes from knowing the work firsthand.

At least 2 to 3 years of work experience, preferably in a non-profit organisation, management consulting, or with government systems.

Hands-on experience of program implementation, with time spent in the field working directly with communities, schools, or government systems.

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, with the ability to write clearly for donors and government audiences.

Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, and comfort working with program data.

High proficiency in Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides.

Ability to take ownership of work streams and carry them from start to finish with limited supervision.

Ability to work with diverse stakeholder groups in a fast-paced environment, and comfort with ambiguity and shifting priorities.

Willingness to be based in Guwahati, spend considerable time in the field across the Northeastern states, and commit to at least 3 to 4 years with Pratham.

Candidates who are from the Northeast, or who have lived and worked in the region, are preferred, given the importance of local context in this role.

A master’s degree or equivalent in Development Studies, International Development, or a related discipline.

Candidates with a background in Management or Economics are also encouraged to apply.

Working knowledge of Assamese, Hindi, or another language of the region.

Prior experience with proposal writing, donor reporting, or government engagement.

A direct hand in shaping Pratham’s growth across a region where the work is still being built.

Close working exposure to senior leadership, donors, and government partners.

Deep field engagement alongside strategy and partnership work.

Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Contact information

Academic background, including institutions attended, degrees earned, and academic record

Past work experience, with relevant skills highlighted

Relevant coursework in development, management, or education

Any experience in development, teaching, or education

Languages spoken

Shortlisted candidates will go through the following stages:

A first round of interviews.

A written assignment for candidates who clear the first round.

A field visit, to see the work firsthand and to let us see how you engage with it.

A final round of interviews.

Note: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we will not be able to provide individual responses to every applicant. We will reach out only to shortlisted candidates. We appreciate your understanding and patience .